How To Choose A Nitrate-free Watermelon (ripe, Sweet And Tasty) + Video

2024 Author: Bailey Albertson | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 12:53

Rules for choosing a watermelon without nitrates

Watermelon is a real symbol of hot summer, pleasant rest and happy childhood. This striped juicy berry is loved by everyone, from small to large. And it is very important to choose a watermelon so that it does not bring troubles to your family, especially - it does not contain nitrates.

The absence of nitrates - is it so important?

The biggest watermelon lovers are children. And if it is difficult for an adult to endure poisoning, then it is especially dangerous for a child. Watermelon is a hot commodity in the summer, and unscrupulous sellers are more interested in their own profit than in the health and safety of buyers.

The modern chemical industry offers a lot of tools to help achieve rapid ripening and growth of fruits. And new discoveries in the world of plant biology and genetics are not lagging behind. Sometimes these innovations can be useful, but more often than not they are used in bad faith. For example, nitrates help watermelons ripen faster without waste. Thus, the producer receives from two harvests per season, the fruits acquire a beautiful external presentation and do not deteriorate during growth, during transportation and storage. Is it so good for you and me, and especially the children?

Watermelon is very healthy when ripe and nitrate-free

What is the main danger of nitrates for the human body? Recently, doctors are increasingly paying attention to alarming symptoms. The amount of nitrates absorbed by watermelons along with fertilizers is not in vain for health. These substances lead to disruptions in the work of hemoglobin in the blood, problems with the transport of oxygen to the organs, and therefore to concomitant diseases and disorders.

The first thing that can happen to you after consuming the “wrong” watermelon is severe food poisoning. This in itself is extremely unpleasant, even in a mild form. And if you remember that there are known fatalities … It is better to take care of your safety in a timely manner and remember a few important tips before going to the store or to the market for a watermelon.

Watermelon selection criteria

It is very difficult to determine the content of substances harmful to the body by the appearance of a watermelon. But there are several signs that should alert you right away before buying

1. The ripeness of a watermelon is easily identified by the spot on its skin. The yellow color indicates ripeness, and the white color indicates that the fruit is not yet ripe.

   

   A yellow spot on the peel is a sign of ripeness and proper ripening of a watermelon

2. Dents and cracks on the surface are a reason to refuse such a watermelon. The peel may be thick, but despite this, the watermelon, due to its juiciness, quickly absorbs dust and dirt, and with them all bacteria.
3. Do not use very large watermelons. There are varieties whose fruits reach a weight of 11 kg, but they are rare in our market. Better to choose a medium-sized fruit, weighing 5-7 kg.
4. Be sure to ask the sellers for documents on the product - quality certificate, trade permit, etc.
5. Try to avoid roadside debris, especially if the watermelons are just lying on the ground. Buy fruits only from special trays, in the market or in stores.

6. Do not forget that watermelon, like all melons, is an exclusively seasonal fruit, and its time comes at the very end of July. It is best not to risk it and buy this berry from mid-August, in the midst of the season.

   

   Try to buy watermelons only in places specially designated for sale; ask sellers for the relevant documents

7. The stripes on the skin of the watermelon should be pronounced. If they are smeared or completely absent in some places, then the berry probably contains nitrates. Also, there should be no brown, black or white spots on the rind of a “right” watermelon.

8. Pay attention to the tail of the watermelon - ideally, it should be yellow and dry. True, in recent years, many have resorted to tricks, and during the growth period they turn the watermelon over, bending the tail. So it turns out that it dries up, and the fruit does not ripen.

   

   A ripe watermelon should have a dry and yellow tail

9. Try to pierce the watermelon rind with your fingernail. If the fruit is ripe, this is almost impossible to do. If the peel yields easily, then this is an unripe fruit.

Any failure to follow these rules can harm your health, so take your watermelon choice seriously.

Video about the right choice of watermelon

How to do a nitrate test at home

Even if outwardly you did not find anything suspicious in the watermelon, this does not guarantee the absence of nitrates. After bringing this fruit home, check it again using several methods.

It is possible to determine the presence of nitrates in a watermelon without a nitrate meter.

1. Cut the center of the watermelon into a triangle and look at the flesh. If its color is darker towards the middle, and lighter near the crust, this is a sure sign of nitrate content.
2. The watermelon should be "sugar", so the absence of grains should alert you. There should be no thick white veins in the pulp. Any hint of a strange taste or odor is best to discard the fruit. And no red streaks on the knife with which you cut the watermelon, or the dishes! The juice should be even.
3. Cut a small piece of watermelon pulp, toss it into a glass of plain water and stir. If the water becomes cloudy, as if a little milk was added to it, then this is the "correct" watermelon. If the water turns pinkish, the watermelon contains nitrates.

In the right glass, a piece of watermelon colored the water pink, which means the probability of nitrate content in it is very high

Now you know how to choose a good, ripe and healthy watermelon, and please your family with a juicy treat without harm. Perhaps you know a few more ways to determine nitrate, tell us about them in the comments. Good luck to you!